18GA/2.1
Opening Session, Sunday 3 June 2007
Opening Speech by Denis Viénot
Dear
Friends,
We are gathered here in this Synod Hall, a
place that is full of symbols, at the heart of
My
first thoughts go to our former President, Monsignor Yoanna Fouad El Hage, whom we elected four years
ago, and who passed away in May 2005. Many of us attended his funeral in
We
worked together within the context of
The
resolution of conflicts and establishment of lasting peace are among the
greatest challenges we face in today’s world. Our network is determined to
incorporate the restoration of peace and reconciliation in all its emergency,
development and social service actions. This entails a global approach aimed at
eliminating poverty whilst tackling the deep causes of ethnic and religious
divisions. The theme of peace is inseparable from advocacy action because we
must lobby and act for the establishment of political and economic reforms that
truly benefit the poor around the world.
In
this context, our General Assembly proposes four objectives:
- Draw up and approve our
strategic priorities. Proposals include:
·
intervention in emergency situations and developing coordinated
efforts in a spirit of partnership
·
promoting integral human
development
·
participating in peace building
·
adapting structures, operating methods and financing
- Vote for a budget plan
- Elect a President, Secretary General and a
Treasurer
- Finally, ratify the
Presidents of regions, the members of the Bureau and the new members of the
Executive Committee.
These
objectives will result in changes, new or renewed issues, and working methods
to be created, for example regarding advocacy and communications. But our
financial strategy also envisages a greater role for the regions. I would like
to sum up the work we have to carry out during this week in one word: challenge.
Indeed,
this Assembly represents a challenge: to create a strategic framework whilst
keeping its financing in mind, which will lead to changes that will be
implemented by a new team.
***
This
opening of our General Assembly is an opportunity to dwell on two particular
matters. One regards the G8 Summit, and the other
This
week, from 6 to 8 June,
·
reduction of poverty and hunger
·
sexual equality and the independence of women
·
the fight against AIDS, malaria and other diseases
·
the setting up of a global development partnership.
Yet, whilst the 2006 United Nations report
indicates some progress, it highlights shortcomings. For example:
In our latest press release regarding the
G8 summit we called for:
Pope Benedict XVI has made public an
exchange of correspondence with Mrs Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, in
which he reiterates the Church’s priorities regarding the fight against poverty
around the world. He wrote that “achieving the goal of eradicating extreme
poverty by the year 2015 is one of the most important tasks in today’s world”.
There is a postcard in your folders, which
is an appeal to support this process. If you so wish, please sign it and hand
it on leaving the session.
This first week of June also marks the 40th
anniversary of the Six-Day War and the start of the occupation in
***
I wish all of you –
In the words of the prayer that was specially prepared
for this Assembly, our gathering is “a privileged forum for reading the
signs of the times and turning the challenges of our mission into concrete
actions that will bring the good news to the poor.”
Thank you to all those who have organised
this week and its content.
A special thank you is also due to those
participants who have travelled a long way to come to
Thanks to all of you who have been obliged
to organise your professional and family commitments to be here.
May you all have a good week of fruitful
work and friendly encounters.